Guns&ReligionCop

edit to my last comment about always having the deer go 50 yards or more, My last doe stood there looking around for a few seconds and then flopped

Maybe they are wearing kevlar? Try armor piercing rounds!

To many people watching movies and they think their snipers, Head shot with a bow? What a complete a$$hole!

I think air guns like pellet rifles are great for small critters especially since supressors are not permitted for hunting in this state. I really don't know much or anything at all about the large caliber airguns that they use for big game but I don't see much of advantage with those just a different style. To each their own.

Heres another pointer if you are up a tree. Paint the top of your steps with white spray paint to make them more visable during your decent in the dark

Congrats. I blew 2 chances on coyotes with my bow this year all ready. The last one came in to my doe in estrus call. The coyote population around here seems to have exploded lately

Wow, don't be so sensitive. I was not trying to be little your air weapon arsenal. Nor do I mean any disrespect when I say smoke pole ie muzzle loader, arrow flinger ie archer. If you read his original post again you will realize he was asking methods that work around here because he was familiar with spot and stalk the way they do in the west in open country completely different then what we use here. Just curious you said you have plenty of opportunities to spot and stalk in wooded areas, any successful hunting stories that involve such?

I have a skull with antlers my neighbors dog brought home hanging from a tree in my lawn. I like it because it pi$$es of my neighbor that has signs around her lawn that say animal sanctuary

Shawn, I believe hes not talking about just stalking quietly in the woods looking for deer, he is talking about how they do it out west were they use a spotting scope and identify their target from a long distance and try to stalk up for a closer shot in range nothing what so ever like you walking around with a bb gun and kicking up a few deer. newbee correct if im wrong on this.

It is definitely a lot easier to tell when they are within bow range especially when they are with momma or another full sized deer. Even with a gun its definitely possible to tell if you have a second to look but gets a lot more tricky.

I honestly don't care if they make crossbows legal for everyone or not but hunters with disablities need to be taken care of. I would hate to see a vet return from war with only one arm and not be able to hunt archery because of these poorly legislated laws. Because they way its currently written he would not be able to do archery.

Don't know what a steadie eddie is but my swivel arm was a complete diaster. What I ended up doing was after extensive physical therapy and some help I got my bow cranked way down and sighted. I'm able to pull it back for a shot or two now and hopefully as I progress I'll be able to gradually increase my poundage. I can't shoot in awkward positions and I get let my bow down so if I draw I have to shoot either at a deer or hopefully a soft spot on the ground that doesn't wreck my arrow. I'm fortunate in that aspect but unfornately for my father he will never recover fully from his neck surgery and will never again be a NY archer without a change in legislation

Welcome

It's my opinion and others will disagree with me but spot and stalk here although not impossible the conditions have to be perfect. The woods here are very loud so getting close to anything undetected unless it is raining or you have some open property is very difficult. Unlike the west we don't typically have acres upon acres of open area and most of us hunt wooded areas. If you are able to spot something here you are probably close enough to shoot it. Most of us either sit and wait or do a slow walk through the woods. Best of luck to you!

True story, (Skip 2 second paragraph if you don't care about the hunt and only want to hear about the 2 year old's involvement) 2 years ago on Thanksgiving day during NY's rifle season I left work early and rushed home to grab my shotgun and go running out and grab the last few mins of shooting light. I'm running up the mountain trying to get to my spot when I see a buck chasing a doe about 75 yards away. I begin to swing on him and getting ready to fire when he hits a opening but when he hits the opening, He stops giving me a perfect 75 yard broadside shot. I put the sight on his heart pull the trigger and BANG!!! he hunchs up like hes hit and flips down out over the hill out of site. I run over to where I shot him to look to see where he ran givig me a sweeping view down the mountian out about 200 yards. I see nothing!!!! I start glassing with my bino's, NOTHING, I start walking a zigzagging pattern back and forth looking for blood NOTHING. I search all over NOTHING. So I go home and the next day at work I call my father and tell him I missed a buck and explain the story. After listening he said to me that he thinks I definitely hit that if I look hard I'll find him. So explain the story to my boss leave early and form a search party with my wife and 2 year old son. The more eyes the better the chances. So I go out with my wife and my 2 year old son on my shoulders. We begin by walking up a road that the deer would have crossed searching for blood even hoof prints in the mud that would indicate where he went NOTHING. Then I suggested to go where I shot him and we would work our way down looking for sign, blood, hair, dead deer etc.. When we get to the place I shot him I start explaining to my wife where I was and the direction he would have run etc when my son started screaming "Deer, daddy daddy deer look deer daddy daddy!" Ignoring him I was trying to talk to my wife but he started boucning screaming "Daddy Daddy Deer DAddy Daddy Deer!!" Frustrated I looked up at him to tell him be quiet and I see he is pointing down. I look to see my buck right in front of me with its rear legs between my wifes feet and we never noticed it!!!! It had dropped right where I shot it and its front half rolled under a log. Never to young to get them started

Good luck to you and a speedy recovery

I agree with you but I could see mistakes being made with no ill intent as far a distiniguishing a btn buck from a doe especially from a distance

A good officer will try to pull over people in these types of locations. If its not well lit area and the car stops its a good idea to tell them to proceed to a better location. The safety involved in a car stop is for both the officer and the motorist. Poor lit, desolate locations, or areas with little room to pull over don't benefit either side.

I would start off by getting a cheap bicycle to help to get there and back without getting all sweaty. I would avoid those all day sits this early in the season because you are just going to burn yourself out this early. Save those longs sits for the rut. Sit where you see a lot of deer sign. It sounds obvious but some people focus to much on terrain as to where the deer actually are doing. Like ShaunHu said do something scouting and if you have a shotgun or 22 you can make it more fun picking off critters. You really don't have to worry much about the blast of a gun though because that won't spook them all that much. Remember hunting is a learning curve that takes a while to learn esp you don't have someone to mentor you and if you run into other hunters talk to them and get friendly pointers they may have to offer. Good luck

Nice buck, congrats

After 9 days of hunting in PA that was almost a total bust until I got this with only a few mins of light left. The exciting part to me was this was the first time in 18 years of bow hunting that the deer didn't know it was hit. She jumped and ran about 10 yards and looked around for about 4 or 5 seconds and her legs went stiff and she flopped over.

I'm guessing 120's possbily low 130's but after deductions i can't see him being over much over 120. Seems like everyone basically agrees not a 140 class deer

I always have a walkie with me because I have no cell service where I hunt and I want to be able to communicate with who ever has the other in case something goes wrong. I might be wrong but I can't find anything about them being illegal. I know certain frequencies have restrictions but has nothing to do with hunting.

THats fine and I agree I often see volley fire fighters blazing around the country side for the most basic calll and think to myself what idiots , they are going to cause a bigger problem then what they are responding to. My statement was aimmed at SHanhu and incorrect and ingnornat statements about the NYPD and police corruption

THe best possible outcome for a fall, safe hunting esp in the rain!